Sideframe and window structure



May 5, 1964 w. s. EGGERT, JR

SIDEFRAME AND wmnow STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FICIL Filed April 24, 1962 Walter SEg 90R, J15

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SIDEFRAME AND wmnow STRUCTURE Filed April 24, 1962 y v5, 1964 w. s. EGGERT, JR 3,131,650

SIDEFRAME AND WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 U I W g BY mnuuumumwmmm & nunm lmmmnmil mnlllllll 4 40 32.

5166 INVENTOR- 32 [119M Walter S. Eggerk Ir.

ATTOHNE Y May 5, 1964 Filed April 24, 1962 w. s. EGGERT, JR 'SIDEFRAME AND WINDOW STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Walt er Siqgeri, Jr

TORNEY United States Patent 3,131,650 SIDEFRAME AND WlNDOW STRUCTURE Walter S. Eggert, in, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to The Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation oi Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 189,926 8 Qlaims. (Cl. 1 55- 101) This invention relates to an improved railway car sideframe and more particularly to a novel Window and sidewall structure.

The trend in modern railway cars for passenger service has been to over design the structure and install elaborate and expensive trim and fittings therein, The windows in suchcars, it not sealed, are slidably restrained along an edge portion of the window frame, and the sash or channel for the window is not a rigid structural member of the sidewall. There has long been an unfilled need for an extremely simple railway car structure that can be made and assembled cheaply and easily and yet provide a structure both lighter and stronger than structures available heretofore.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved sidewall structure which also serves as the window frame post.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved sidewall structure which includes interconnected window stub posts and window frame posts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel window structure which is economical, strong and easily maintained or repaired.

It is a general object to provide an economical and reliable sidewall structure which also provides support for the interior trim and seats of a passenger car.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a railway car with a, portion of the sidewall broken away to show the opposite interior sidewall;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevation of the opposite interior sidewall shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section in elevation taken through the sidewall of FIG. 2 at line 33;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial section in elevation of the window area of FIGS. 2 and 3 and is a structural detail of the window frame taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation of the window of FIG. 2 showing the sideframe structure and the window in raised position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial side elevation of the window of FIG. 5 shown in partial section;

FIG, 7 is an enlarged section in plan view taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken at line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FlG. 9 is an enlarged section taken at line 99 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged section in plan view taken at line ld-lti of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section in elevation taken at line 11-11 of FIG. 6;

3,l3l,650 Patented May 5, 1964 FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial side elevation similar to FIG. 2, but with the seats and trim removed;

FIG. 13 is a section in plan view taken at line 1313 of FIG. 12.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of a typical railway car embodying the present invention. Side wall 10 is provided with a plurality of window assemblies 12 centrally located in the side wall. The opening for the window assembly 12 is provided in a plurality of outer window dead lights 14 joined at their abutting edges to provide a continuous formed plate running the length of the car. An inner trim panel 16- is provided with a window aperture similar to the dead light 14 to complete the window opening, Horizontal throughrunning frame members provide a main support frame for the window assemblies. These horizonttal through-running members are the side wall top sill 18, the upper belt rail 2%, the lower belt rail 22 to which the dead lights are attached, and the side sill 24-. As will be explained later, vertical framing posts are provided connecting the sills and belt rails to rigidity and strengthen the throughrunning structural members. Over the side wall frame there are provided upper corrugations 26 and lower corrugations 23. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the throughrunning sills 18 and 24 and the through-running belt rails 2d and 22 provide horizontal structural framing for the side Wall post 30 connected at their lower ends to the sill 24 and at their upper ends to the sill 18 and connected at their intermediate portions to the belt rails 20 and 22. The window 12 is supported by a window frame post 32 which is U-shaped and connected at its upper vertical ends to the top sill 18. Window assembly 12 is adapted to move vertically on guides provided on the window frame post. In order to provide a rigid structural'connection between the window frame post 32 and the dead light 14 a vertical structural spacer post 34 connected to the belt rail 2% and the top sill 18 is provided to make post 32 deep above the dead light. This spacer post 34 provides a rigid connection between window frame post 32 and the through-running frame members which include sill 18, belt rail 29 and dead light 14. To reinforce the outer window dead lights there are provided upper window vertical stub posts 36 connected at the upper ends to the top sill 18 and at their lower ends to the dead light 14 and belt rail 2%, and lower window stub posts 33 which are connected at their lower ends to the side sill 24 and at their upper ends to the dead light 14, the window post 32, and lower belt rail 22. It will be noted that the seats shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be mounted to the vetittical side wall post 30 and the lower window stub post 38 which provides a rigid structural supporting member permitting the seats to be attached to the side wall without floor supporting legs or members. The provision of the window post 32 and the vertical stub post 36 and 38 intermediate the vertical side wall post 30, permits the corrugations 26 and 28 to be reduced 20% to about 50% of their normal thickness because the span between vertical posts is appreciably reduced and the strength requirements for the horizontal corrugations are largely based on the unsupported length between vertical members. Thus, it is shown that the novel sidewall frame structure also provides for a more economical outer skin surface as well as providing intermediate structural supports for interior car trim.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken through the window of FIG. 2 at section 44 showing the structural details of the window shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The dead light panel 14 is essentially a flat metal plate which is attached to all of the aforementioned vertical posts and is covered over at the upper horizontal edge with belt rail 20 and at the lower horizontal edge with belt rail 22. It will be understood that the posts interconnecting the dead light panel are also connected to the belt rails preferably by weld connections through the three thicknesses of metal plate as shown in FIG. 4. The window aperture in the dead light 14 is recessed to provide structural stiffness to the dead light and to place the window away from the wind stream substantially at the inner trim surface. The U-shaped window frame post 32, shown as a Z-bar, has its upper vertical leg connected to the recessed aperture of the dead light 14 and its lower vertical leg connected to the stub post 38. The horizontal web of the window frame post 32 provides a sash frame for the window frame 40. A window drain aperture 42 is notched into the upper vertical leg of window post 32 and a portion of the dead light aperture 14 (shown also in FIG. in elevation). The window glass 44 by way of a preferred embodiment is shown connected to the window frame by a rubber window strip or connector 46 with an inlay strip. It will be noted that the entire window assembly 12 comprising the frame 46, glass 44 and window strip 46 are removable as an assembly when the window trim frame 48 is removed.

Back-up plate 50 is provided at the upper half of the window aperture on trim panel 16 having tapped holes therein to accept screws which hold frame 48 in place. The sealing strip 52 is preferably bonded to the window post 32. Strip 52 and back-up plate 50 form a continuous strip around the inside of the window aperture in trim panel 16 when it is mounted in place.

If a Z-bar, shaped as an inverted U-member, like the window post 32 (FIG. 4) is substituted for the back-up plate 50 a continuous oval structural frame is provided around the window aperture. This modification permits a window 44 to be mounted directly into the dead light aperture with window strip connector 46, or alternatively a horizontal sliding window assembly may be mounted directly into the structural frame formed by the post 32 and the Z-bar.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 11 wherein there is shown a novel structural arrangement for vertically rising windows. As will be apparent from the following description the novel window is jam proof and self-aligning. Window frame 40 is preferably a continuous oval aluminum extrusion provided with a bifurcated or U- shaped guide slidably fitted over an anti-friction coated guide bar 54 (shown in FIG. 7 etc.). The two-piece or split guide bar 54 carries at its upper end a plate and sheave 56 over which a cable 58 is threaded. The cable 58 is connected to a handle 60 at one of its ends and extends vertically and then horizontally through a cable guide 62 and continues horizontally engaging in the groove of the sheave 56 then extends vertically downward guided in a groove 64 in the window frame 40 (as shown in FIG. 7) and is fastened to the window frame by an anchor block 66 and screw 68 (as shown in FIG. 8). It will be understood that once the cables 58 are attached to the handle 60 and the window assembly 12 that a vertical downward movement of the handle 60 causes the window assembly 12 to rise vertically. The downward force is easily applied and the oval shape prevents any binding. The handle 60 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided with a rubber stop 70 and an aperture in the handle for cooperation with an outward extending finger 74. Finger 74 may be duplicated a number of times intermediate the .cable guide 62 and the finger 74 shown, to provide a plurality of raised positions or alternatively a cable clamp or stop may be provided at the cable guide 62 to allow vertical adjustment to an infinite number of positions.

One of the problems associated with vertically rising windows having cables or sash cords is the difficulty in replacing the cable or cord. If it becomes necessary to replace the cable in the present embodiment the frame 48 is removed and the window assembly 12 removed from the post 32. A new cable 58 is threaded through the guide 62 (best shown in FIG. 4). The cable is threaded down and into the window opening. Fastening screws 76 holding the lower end of the guide bar 54 are removed. The guide bar 54 with the sheave 56 and plate attached are moved upward releasing the bayonet type lug attachment 78 (as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) holding the upper end of the guide bar 54. When the guide bar is free the cable may be threaded through the sheave and the guide bar replaced in its attached position mounted to the window post 32. As the window is replaced in its aperture and raised slightly, the new cable may be attached to the window frame by means of the anchor block 66 (shown in FIG. 8). It is possible to make any slack adjustment of the cable at the handle 60 or the anchor block 66. Once the window assembly 12 is adjusted the window trim frame 48 may be replaced. The removable split guide bar 54 enables the replacement of window cables or cords without the requirement of disassembling any of the interior trim to provide access to the sheaves.

As shown in FIG. 9 rubber bumpers 80 may be placed in the bifurcated groove of window frame 40 to provide a cushion or stop bumper if the window is rapidly closed. Similar rubber bumpers may be provided at the top. It will be noted that the window trim frame 48 extends completely around the window frame 40 and is provided with a Schlagle cloth sealer strip 82 inserted into the trim frame 48 thus providing a rattle proof and substantially airtight seal when the window is in the lowered position. Spring levers, not shown, may be attached to the window post 32 at the raised and lowered position to press the frame 40 against the Schlagle cloth or side stops, thus providing a mechanically tight window without the necessity of parallel interfitted slide guides.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 the vertical posts 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 form a reinforcing frame between the horizontal members 14, 18, 20, 22 and 24. In the present embodiment the upper stub posts 36 are only half as deep as the lower vertical stub posts 38 to allow for the vertical rising window. Had a horizontal sliding window or a fixed window been employed the vertical stub posts could be full depth and the U-shaped window frame posts could be replaced with a continuous structural member having the same shape as the window to be employed. The structural shape for the window would then connect to the dead light panel 14 and the vertical stub posts 36 and 38. Thus, it is apparent that the novel structural arrangement eliminates the need for inner belt rails and/or through-running inner structural members employed above or below the window frame which would eliminate any possibility of mounting the structural trim to be described hereinafter as large single flat sheets.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 wherein there is shown the economical and desirable fiat sheet inner trim panel 16 connected to the structural frame members by means of trim bars or trim molding 84 and self-tapping screws which are recessed into the trim bars or molding.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described hereinbefore and that various modifications and refinements may be employed without departing from the present invention such as substitution of numerous commercially available window assemblies and/or modifying the shape of the window frame post to accommodate such assemblies.

In describing the several modifications and embodiments it becomes apparent that the side wall structural framing provides a completely smooth interior structural base for mounting any of the trim or equipment, and that the outer lines of the railway car side wall have a standard and acceptable appearance while providing a superior and improved novel structure. Other changes and modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway car sidewall structure comprising in combination,

(A) a plurality of vertical sidewall posts,

(B) a top sill connecting said sidewall posts,

(C) a side sill connecting said sidewall posts at the lower ends,

(D) an outer window dead light panel intermediate said sills and connected to the outer face of adjacent vertical sidewall posts, said panel (1) having a formed window aperture therein recessed away from said outer face of said vertical sidewall posts,

(E) a lower belt rail connected to said dead light panel and to said sidewall posts below said formed window aperture,

(F) an upper belt rail connected to said dead light panel and to said sidewall posts above said formed Window aperture,

(G) a U-shaped window frame around said aperture,

having (1) upper vertical ends connected to said top sill,

and

(2) a bottom horizontal portion connected to said dead light panel,

(H) an upper window vertical stub post in vertical alignment with said aperture, having (1) an upper end connected to said top sill, and

(2) a lower end connected to said upper belt rail and said dead light panel,

(I) a lower window vertical stub post in vertical alignment with said aperture, having (1) a lower end connected to said side sill, and

(2) an upper end connected to said dead light panel, said lower belt rail and said U-shaped window frame post,

(I) an upper skin sheet having (1) a lower edge connected to said dead light panel, and

(2) an upper edge connected to said top sill,

(3) said upper skin sheet being connected to said vertical ends of said U-shaped window frame post, said upper stub posts and said vertical sidewall post,

(K) and a lower skin sheet having (1) an upper edge connected to said dead light panel,

(2) a lower edge connected to said side sill,

(3) said lower skin sheet being connected to said lower window vertical stub posts and said vertical sidewall posts,

(1) said dead light panel and said belt rails providing the intermediate horizontal longitudinal reinforcing structure between said top sill and said side sill,

(2) said upper and said lower stub posts cooperating with said U-shaped Window frame providing an intermediate reinforcing structure between said sidewall posts on which said upper and lower skin sheets are attached to provide a simplified low weight high strength sidewall panel.

2. in a sidewall structure according to claim 1 wherein there is further provided a fiat sheet inner trim panel provided with a formed window aperture therein connected to said U-shaped post at said formed aperture, the upper horizontal edge of said panel being connected to said top sill, and the vertical edges being connected to said vertical sidewall posts to provide a fiat panel sill to floor inner trim structure.

3. In a sidewall structure according to claim 2 wherein there is further provided vertical and horizontal trim bars for connecting said inner trim panels to said sidewall posts and said sill.

4. In a sidewall structure according to claim 1 wherein there is further provided vertical anti-friction window guide bars connected to upper vertical ends of said U-shaped window frame post opposite the ends of said aperture in said dead light panel and adapted to guide the ends of a movable window.

5. In a sidewall structure according to claim 4 wherein there is further provided a glass window supported by an attached frame movable therewith, said frame being provided with a U-shaped guide frame slidably fitted over said vertical anti-friction guide bars.

6. In a sidewall structure according to claim 5 wherein there is further provided a roller sheave on the upper ends of said guide bars, and a cable connected to the ends of said window and threaded over said sheave to a single handle which provides a raising and alignment means for said Window.

7. In a sidewall structure according to claim 2 wherein there is further provided an inverted U-shaped member connected to said U-shaped window frame post to provide an oval sash for a window, a flat resilient sealing ring strip continuously connected around the oval formed by said inverted U-shaped member and said U-shaped window frame post between said inner trim and said oval, and a window trim frame connected to said U-shaped member and said =U-shaped window frame post for compressing said resilient sealing strip and holding said inner trim and said sealing strip in place.

8. A railway car sidewall structure comprising in combination,

(A) a plurality of sidewall posts,

(13) a top sill connecting said sidewall posts,

(C) a side sill connecting said sidewall posts at the lower ends,

(D) an outer window dead light panel intermediate said sills and connected to the outer face of adjacent vertical sidewall posts, said panel having (1) a recessed formed window aperture therein recessed away from said outer face of said vertical sidewall posts.

(E) a lower belt rail connected to said dead light panel and to said sidewall posts below said formed window aperture.

(F) an upper belt rail connected to said dead light panel and said sidewall posts above said formed window aperture,

(G) a U-shaped window frame post connected around said formed window aperture, having (1) upper vertical ends connected to said top sill,

and

(2) a horizontal portion connected to said dead light panel,

(H) lower window vertical stub posts in vertical alignment with said aperture, having (1) lower ends connected to said side sill, and

(2) upper ends connected to said dead light panel, said lower belt rail and said U-shaped window frame,

(I) a cross member connecting said upper vertical ends of said U-shaped window frame post forming a window header for said window frame,

(I) an upper skin sheet having (1) a lower edge connected to said dead light panel, and

(2) an upper edge connected to said top sill,

(3) said upper skin sheet being connected to said vertical ends of said U-shaped window frame post, said upper stub posts and said vertical sidewall posts,

(K) and a lower skin sheet having (1) an upper edge connected to said dead light lower stub posts providing an intermediate verpanel, and tical reinforcing structure between said sidewall (2) a lower edge connected to said side sill, Posts,

(3) said lower skin sheet being connected to said Said Skin Sheets being attached t0 Said reinlower window vertical stub posts and said ver- 5 forcing Ptfuctufe to Provide a Simplified reintical sidewall posts, forced sidewall structure having a high strength (L) weight ratio.

(1) a dead. light i and.said belt 15 P References Cited in the file of this patent v1d1ng the Intermediate horizontal long1tud1nal reinforcing structure between said top sill and 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS said side sill, and 830,922 Ostrander Sept. 11, 1906 (2) said U-shaped window frame post and said 2,646,003 Eksergian et J ly 21, 1953 

1. A RAILWAY CAR SIDEWALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL SIDEWALL POSTS, (B) A TOP SILL CONNECTING SAID SIDEWALL POSTS, (C) A SIDE SILL CONNECTING SAID SIDEWALL POSTS AT THE LOWER ENDS, (D) AN OUTER WINDOW DEAD LIGHT PANEL INTERMEDIATE SAID SILLS AND CONNECTED TO THE OUTER FACE OF ADJACENT VERTICAL SIDEWALL POSTS, SAID PANEL (1) HAVING A FORMED WINDOW APERTURE THEREIN RECESSED AWAY FROM SAID OUTER FACE OF SAID VERTICAL SIDEWALL POSTS, (E) A LOWER BELT RAIL CONNECTED TO SAID DEAD LIGHT PANEL AND TO SAID SIDEWALL POST BELOW SAID FORMED WINDOW APERTURE, (F) AN UPPER BELT RAIL CONNECTED TO SAID DEAD LIGHT PANEL AND TO SAID SIDEWALL POSTS ABOVE SAID FORMED WINDOW APERTURE, (G) A U-SHAPED WINDOW FRAME AROUND SAID APERTURE, HAVING (1) UPPER VERTICAL END CONNECTED TO SAID TOP SILL, AND (2) A BOTTOM HORIZONTAL PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID DEAD LIGHT PANEL, (H) AN UPPER WINDOW VERTICAL STUB POST IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID APERTURE, HAVING (1) AN UPPER END CONNECTED TO SAID TOP SILL, AND (2) A LOWER END CONNECTED TO SAID UPPER BELT RAIL AND SAID DED LIGHT PANEL, (I) A LOWER WINDOW VERTICAL STUB POST IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID APERTURE, HAVING (1) A LOWER END CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE SILL, AND (2) AN UPPER END CONNECTED TO SAID DEAD LIGHT PANEL, SAID LOWER BELT RAIL AND SAID U-SHAPED WINDOW FRAME POST, (J) AN UPPER SKIN SHEET HAVING (1) A LOWER EDGE CONNECTED TO SAID DEAD LIGHT PANEL, AND (2) AN UPPER EDGE CONNECTED TO SAID TOP SILL, (3) SAID UPPER SKIN SHEET BEING CONNECTED TO SAID VERTICAL ENDS OF SAID U-SHAPED WINDOW FRAME POST, SAID UPPER STUB POSTS AND SAID VERTICAL SIDEWALL POST, (K) AND A LOWER SKIN SHEET HAVING (1) AN UPPER EDGE CONNECTED TOS AID DEAD LIGHT PANEL (2) A LOWER EDGE CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE SILL, (3) SAID LOWER SKIN SHEET BEING CONNECTED TO SAID LOWER WINDOW VERTICAL STUB POSTS AND SAID VERTICAL SIDEWALL POSTS, (1) SAID DEAD LIGHT PANEL AND SAID BELT RAILS PROVIDING THE INTERMEDIATE HORIZONTAL LONGITUDINAL REINFORCING STRUCTURE BETWEEN SAID TOP SILL AND SAID SIDE SILL, (2) SAID UPPER AND SAID LOWER STUB POSTS COOPERATING WITH SAID U-SHAPED WINDOW FRAME PROVIDING AN INTERMEDIATE REINFORCING STRUCTURE BETWEEN SAID SIDEWALL POSTS ON WHICH SAID UPPER AND LOWER SKIN SHEETS ARE ATTACHED TO PROVIDE A SIMPLIFIED LOW WEIGHT HIGH STRENGTH SIDEWALL PANEL. 